Baton handed to Glasgow as Delhi Games end with a bang

Spectacular ceremony draws curtains on successful Games

Over 2,700 shots of fireworks, 25 stacks of speakers producing 500,000 watts of sound and 1,200 moving lights combined with the majestic aerostat to create a spectacular closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, at the Jawaharlal Nehru, in New Delhi, on Thursday.

Prince Edward, patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation, formally declared the 19th edition closed amid thunderous cheers from the audience.

Leaving the about 60,000 spectators spellbound was the lighting arrangements that were magical.

Firework display leaves spectators breathless

About 1,200 moving lights, 120 space cannons and 16 follow spots weighing approximately 75 tonnes was what it took to leave the spectators breathless.

Not to be missed out were the 2,700 shots of fireworks spread over 88 locations on the roof of the stadium. The crowd erupted in revelry as the fire-crackers exploded in the air.

The capacity crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was treated to a three-hour long ceremony that also featured the world's largest helium balloon, various local martial arts, thousands of dancers and a laser show.

Image: Indian soldiers play musical instruments during the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony

The rangoli that left everyone spellbound

Over 2,000 children stole the hearts of the spectators as they performed to the tunes of Vande Matram and created a rangoli pattern on the field as part of the closing ceremony.

It began with 2010 school children from Delhi, dressed in white costumes, taking over the centre of the stadium to form a rangoli pattern.

With one group of children moved in to form the Ashoka Chakra in the centre of the rangoli, other kids, holding coloured powder dispensers, sprinkled colours of the Indian flag on the children creating an eye-catching moment of patriotism.

Beautiful transformation to costumes

As the dust settled, what one witnessed was children covered in various shades of the Indian flag creating a tri-coloured rangoli. With the laser lights cutting across, the scene was indeed spectacular.

They also flipped their costumes and the rangoli patterns transformed to reveal beautiful combinations.

As the tune of Vande Matram faded, tri-coloured pyros took off from the roof of the stadium, signalling the end of a 15-minute segment.

Image: Indian Sikh artists perform during the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony on Thursday

Bagpipers showcased Scottish culture

That was followed by the athletes of the Games entering the field for the parade.

Together with the marshals, who also came in, the athletes placed themselves in a manner to depict the 'Wheel of Life', an intrinsic part of the Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010 logo.

More than 300 performers, dressed in tartan outfits and accompanied by two bagpipe players, showcased some Scottish culture as Glasgow organisers offered a short glimpse of what can be expected in 2014.

India create Games history

Indian sportspersons came out with flying colours and helped the country finish a historic second in the final pecking order, with more than 100 medals as the Games, that had a troubled build-up but proceeded smoothly thereafter, came to a close.

A record medal haul of 38 gold, 27 silver and 36 bronze medals, the best-ever harvest for the country in the Games' history, helped India climb to the record-high second position and end the multi-discipline event on a thumping note.

The main haul of these 101 medals came from the shooting range, wrestling mat, boxing ring, archery range and, to everyone's surprise, the track and field events, to provide the country with a reasonably strong sports foundation on which to build a more powerful edifice.

'Delhi's will be a hard act to follow'

On the organisational front, after the shambolic build-up that included a dirty athletes' village and other shortcomings leading to threats of pull-out by leading competing nations, the Commonwealth Games was given a pat on the back by CGF chief Michael Fennell.

"Delhi has performed and the overall image of the Games has been extremely positive", he declared.

"I would like to thank the organising committee and the people of Delhi for overcoming the obstacles presented to them to deliver a truly outstanding event.

"Delhi's will be a hard act to follow, but we are confident that the bar will be raised again in Glasgow in 2014," Fennell said.

Jamaican Trecia Smith, who retained her title in the women's triple jump, was awarded the final accolade of the night when she collected the David Dixon award after being named outstanding athlete of the Games.

Image: A dancer, illuminated by lasers, performs during the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony